Black box with exclamation point instead of photo

I recently switched from a PC to Mac and used a transfer cable to move my photos into iPhoto. Small thumbnails look fine, but when I open some of them all I get is a black box with an exclamation point inside a white circle. This seems to apply only to SOME of the pics that were originally SCANNED into my PC as jpeg files. Although I suspected this was how photos imported, I did try the Rebuild feather, but that didn't work. Is still have my originals on my old PC, but I'd like to get rid of it. Is there still a way I can access what's on my Mac -- or successfully import from my PC?
Thanks in advance for the assistance!

The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords, faces and places back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
Regards
TD

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Gray circle with Exclamation point instead of photo?

I get that....er still can't paste the bugger.
when I try to open a photo from viewing the event. The event pics are there but when I double click on the pic the gray circle appears. I have been a mac user for years and this is an annoying problem. Any help would be great. Thanks.
Message was edited by: musashi88

Then I'm afraid that it's likely a damaged database.
Try these in order - from best option on down...
1. Do you have an up-to-date back up? If so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from the back up to the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
2. Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums back.
3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Events and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'
Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
Go into the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.
Regards
TD

Black circles with exclamation point

Why are my pictures showing a black circle and exclamation point when i double click and the EASIEST way to fix!

The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one. .
Regards
TD

Black screen with exclamation point when trying to view photos

In iphoto 8, when I try to make some pics bigger by clicking on it, the screen changes to a black screen with a white exclamation point in it. This does not happen to all the photos, only some of them. Can someone tell me what happened and how do I fix it?
Thanks!

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
The ! or ? turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
Try these in order - from best option on down...
1. Do you have an up-to-date back up? If so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from the back up to the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
2. Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new *iPhoto 08* library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Events and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'
Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
Go into the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.
Regards
TD

In iPhoto on MacBook getting black exclamation point instead of photo

getting a black exclamation point in iPhoto instead of the photo. Tried holding down option & command while getting on to iPhoto. it's not working, thank you.

then download iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ - and use its rebuild command
LN

Photo transfer and update from 5-year-old Macbook to new iMac using Time Machine resulted in half of 2014's photos being un-viewable (only a gray triangle with exclamation point shows). How do I fix it?

I turned on my new iMac for the first time today and set it up using a backup on Time Machine from my old Macbook, which is running OS X 10.9.5 and has iPhoto version 8.1.2. When I went to open iPhoto on the new computer, it said I had to update the photos to work with the new version. Now, my photos from part of July 26, 2014 and onwards do not show up in the new iPhoto. The albums and spaces for the photos are there, but only a gray triangle with exclamation point shows in their place. Every other photo from 2003 to half of July 26, 2014 appears to have updated without issue. None of the fixes/rebuilds I tried worked. When I open up TimeMachine, it has no backups that I can use for the new computer (perhaps, because I wanted to still have access to use my old backups for my old laptop so told it not to use them for the new computer). My most recent half a year's photos are the ones I need the most. How do I make them appear on my new iMac?

Do you still have the old Mac? Then check, if the iPhoto Library has the newer events from July 26 onwards.
If yes, copy the iPhoto library from the old Mac to the new mac by connecting both computers. And then try to upgrade the copied library.
If you no longer have access to the old mac, you could try to inherit the backup of the old Mac and try to restore the iPhoto Library from it.
See Pondini's FAQ: http://pondini.org/TM/B6.html

When using iphoto I can view the photos but when I double click on a photo it becomes a black box with a white circle on the screen

When using iphoto, I can view the photos but when I double click on 1 specific photo it enlarges to a black box with a large white circle in it...doesn't matter which photo I click on the end result is the same...black box with a white circle.

Hello michelefox17
It's sounds like you may need to rebuild your iPhoto Library. The article below has the steps on how do that.
iPhoto 6 and later: Rebuilding the iPhoto library
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2638
If your issues persist then you may want to contact Apple Support
Contact Apple Support
http://www.apple.com/support/contact/
Hope that help,
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When I click on my thumdrive of the photos, I get a black box with an explanation mark. I am using iphoto 9.2.1

When I click on the thumbdrive pictures, it opens to a black box with an explantion mark. I am using iphoto 9.2.1. Note this just started last night.

Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one. .
Regards
TD

I can no longer see my pictures.....the screen is white boxes but when I click on the box an exclamation point pops up. Please Help!!!!

I can no longer see my pictures.....the screen is white boxes but when I click on the box an exclamation point pops up. Please Help!!!!

The exclamation point occurs when iPhoto breaks/loses the file path to the original file. So try the following: make a temporary, duplicate copy of the library and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Select the options identified in the screenshot AND
the option to rebuild the small thumbnails.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

IPad has a black box with a white circle.

When I got ios 5 I was amazed how much speed and functionality came with it. However, yesterday an annoying black box with a white circle appeared in the bottom left corner of my iPad. It gives me the options of home, device, gestures, and favorites. How do I get rid of this?
Happy solving and point earning. Sent From My iPad 2 32GB Black Running iOS 5

Check the Accessibility options under Settings. You appear to have activated Assitive Touch
This article has more details (applies to iPad as well as iPhone)
http://www.macworld.com/article/163058/2011/10/up_close_with_ios_5_accessibility _features.html#lsrc.rss_main

When importing photos from my iPhone black boxes appear in place of random photos in the library and in Photostream.

When importing photos from my iPhone black boxes appear in place of random photos in the iPhoto library and in Photostream. It has no apparent pattern, the photos are just blank. It's not just icons, when I go to edit the photos externally in Photoshop it opens an image filled with nothing but black.
This is more than annoying. It's effectively deleting photos I'm taking on vacation and so forth.
Anyone?

The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In Library Manager it's the FIle -> Rebuild command)
This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
Regards
TD

C655D 5210 tosiba black screen with mouse pointer

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here is the error message when trying to install windows 7
file:\Boot\BCD
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An error occured while attempting to read the boot configuration.

Hi, last try is to install os manually, a clean os Install (way to go here)
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HT204318 Copied my iTunes from my Mac to my Windows 7 laptop, now there are thousands of songs missing on the Windows copy with the exclamation point. everything shows up, playlists and tracks, there are just a bunch of songs with exclamation points. how

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hi
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Welcome to Apple Discussions!
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Black box with exclamation point instead of photo

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